Yikes! $25 shipping for a $20 pedal...I should just make my own. lol This sounds like it could do the trick, too.
What value pot should I run?
As an eBay Associate, TalkBass may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Reducing output by removing tubes
- Thread starter awilkie84
- Start date
What value pot should I run?
I'm running 2 P-basses. 1 With barts and one with a SPB3. Their volume levels are similar. When rolling volumes on either bass, it changes the character of the sound. I like it wide open and clear. I'm thinking I'm going to try making one of those passive volume controls and run it through my effects chain. That way I get my bass wide open into the gain/pre & can then level it off from there.
Darn yous guys - this place is worse than an alcoholic hanging out at the local dive bar.
I ended up ordering a CTM-30 last night:
https://8thstreet.com/Product/Get/70246/ashdown-ctm-30-30-watt-all-tube-bass-amp-head
$459.15 delivered with the 12% off promo code.
There's a nice restored B25B on fleaBay for about the same but I'd rather have new and light. I play a lot of early (Woodstock era) rock when guitars were clean and bass was overdriven through a B15. I normally run my SVT clone with the master on "1" and the gain on 2 o'clock or so.
Not sure how the circuit differs from the LB30 (which I own) but those little Ashdowns are pretty tough. I have only had mine a few weeks and even with the simple control layout I discover new ways to take advantage if this little tube powerhouse every time I sit down at it.
Best of luck with your quest OP.
That seems way off beam to me. If your amp seems too "powerful", just turn the volume control a bit anti-clockwise until you get the volume that sits well in the mix.
Did you bother to read the thread or just respond based on the title??
Same amp, different name - they just renamed it and changed the cosmetics a bit.
Then I think you will really like it. Lots of both practical and fun tones in that little sucker.
Ah... No...
Ah...... Yes. I have never experienced the exact pickups he is using. But I have done this all the time with my passive Fender basses. One Roscoe Beck Sig and one 5 string P bass. I have the LB30 and a Walkabout. I just sold a V4. I also do a lot of daisy chaining channels on an old Fender PA100. And if I want to slightly overdrive at lower volumes, I simply crank up the gain (particularly on my Walkabout which overdrvies the best of these to me) and start with the volume on the bass at zero. I dial up on the bass and down on the gain until I get the overdrive/volume desired. Works great. And I have never noticed a big difference in tone by doing it that way or balls out loud with the volume on the bass pegged and the gain down a bit.
It would appear from Traynor's response:
Traynor said:
Hi Andrew. Pulling tubes won't work as the failsafe circuitry will simply kick that pair of tubes out of action and boost voltage to the others to maintain power. It almost sounds as if you'd like some sort of pedal. You might try patching a volume pedal into the effects loop. That way your preamp gain functions normally and you get some control over volume.
Hoping this helps.
Mike Holman\
Yorkville Sound
that Removing tubes from this amp to lessen output power is a bad idea. Unless you are personally trying to support your tube supplier.
Traynor said:
Hi Andrew. Pulling tubes won't work as the failsafe circuitry will simply kick that pair of tubes out of action and boost voltage to the others to maintain power. It almost sounds as if you'd like some sort of pedal. You might try patching a volume pedal into the effects loop. That way your preamp gain functions normally and you get some control over volume.
Hoping this helps.
Mike Holman\
Yorkville Sound
that Removing tubes from this amp to lessen output power is a bad idea. Unless you are personally trying to support your tube supplier.
Is there an effect box in your loop that has a volume control? Sounds like it would have essentially the same effect?
Since the OP already tried it and it worked I suspect that Traynor guy was a script reading droid. But in general if you're going to research tube pulling on the internet make sure you have a good pair of muck boots on LOL.
The only effect I have with a volume control is my Boss DA-2, but the level knob on that thing becomes unclear at low volume, too. I'm going to attempt to just build a passive volume box to run through my effects loop. I have enough spare parts (other than a case) to try this.
Oh FFS! Are you guys not reading that I CAN'T JUST LOWER IT!? Seriously. I don't want to be a dick or anything, but I clearly explained this in my previous posts.
Did you read how many the OP had to pull before any real difference was heard? You can close your eyes jumping out of an airplane, but you're still headed for the ground
Yeah...I pulled 4...and then 6...and then 8...each one had an incremental change.Did you read how many the OP had to pull before any real difference was heard? You can close your eyes jumping out of an airplane, but you're still headed for the ground
The difference between 100 and 300 watts is only 4.77db - and part of that is made up for by the reduced power compression from running the cab at less power. It's absolutely no surprise that pulling only 1/3 of the tubes makes little difference to the ear...Did you read how many the OP had to pull before any real difference was heard? You can close your eyes jumping out of an airplane, but you're still headed for the ground
The change should have been VERY notable at each step. 4 out of 12 should have been a huge step to start with.
